Tony Bellew on Saturday night had an upset victory over heavyweight opponent David Haye. The lethal cruiserweight fighter stopped Haye in the 11th round of one of the biggest ever witnessed heavyweight grudge matches. He had had to move up two weight categories in order to participate in this all-British match that was held at the 02 grounds.

Injuries early into the night

The Bellew-Haye duel was marked by injuries which occurred quite early into the match. The most notable of these is an injury that plagued Haye in the 6th round. The 36 year old appeared to have torn his right Achilles tendon in the 6th round. In spite of this, he harnessed sportsmanship courage and carried on with the match up to the 11th round.

Haye has since underwent surgery for the injury. His representatives on Sunday released a statement saying that he had underwent surgery at a London hospital and that he was thankful to all the fans for their messages of kindness.

In another case which was largely unknown until Bellew talked about it Sunday, Haye’s opponent Bellew also sustained a serious injury early into the match. The 34 year old told BBC Radio 5 in a Sunday interview that he had broken his right hand somewhere in the second or third ground. He also went ahead that it was feeling sore but that it didn’t bother him much as he cared more about his win. He downplayed the injury as only being the size of a small bowling ball.

A stoppage victory for Bellew in the 11th round

In what was his first ever professional stint at heavyweight, Bellew managed to outboxed his injury-downed opponent and earn an 11th round stoppage. The Liverpudlian sent Haye out of the ring in the 11th round with a flurry of punches. Haye managed to make an on-time comeback but his corner threw in the towel just at that moment so as to save him from further injury.

Concern for colleague

Saturday night’s fight between Bellew and Haye wasn’t just your ordinary kind of match where one sportsman is bent on winning and showing his prowess at all cost. It was different in that Bellew showed concern for his counterpart. Bellew revealed in an interview that he kept asking Haye now and then if they could stop out of concern over his injury. Haye was however intent on carrying on with the match and therefore didn’t yield to Bellew’s suggestions.

What next for the two boxers?

Following Saturday night’s victory, WBC cruiserweight champion Bellew now has two options. He can either remain at heavyweight and even face great fighters like Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua or he can go back to cruiserweight and defend his WBC title. Additionally, retirement could also be an option for the sensational boxer. He told BBC Radio 5 in the same interview that he is considering retirement for the sake of his family and his own wellbeing. He however said that he will not turn down any big fight offer that may come his way in the near future.

Bellew’s promoter Eddie Hearn has already received fight proposals from the representatives of two great boxers. These include WBC heavyweight Deontay Wilder and WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker.

On Haye’s part, he has to concentrate on upping his boxing game following recovery from his Achilles injury. The Saturday night fight had been his third fight ever since his recent comeback into boxing.

Tony Bellew’s career stats now reads (29-2-1, 19KOs) while that of Haye reads (28-3, 26KOs).